How common is it to bike across the country. Please don't flame me for this suggestion, it's merely a topic to talk about.

how much training would it really take to ride 70-100 miles for months?

know anybody who has done it? got a link?

and how in the WORLD would you pack for something like that, i mean, you'd have to get food along the way (very obviously) but what? 5 bottle racks and a camelback? :P a tent probably.

how would you plan a route? do gps devices create routes that don't use the highway? (they probably do, but i don't own one)

wouldn't this take 2-3 months? even going relatively fast?

i just got to thinkin about it, you know ;) it'd be a fun trip for the last summer of college (if i'm not doing an internship) . . . while i'm still young enough to do something that crazy/absurd.

and before you ask, heck yes, one way only.

Go to the Touring forum ... I believe several people there have done it. Also check out crazyguyonabike: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/

Read through the many threads in the Touring forum for ideas on how to do it ... you'll get heaps of packing lists and everything there. And ... why would you think you'd need to carry that much water?

i can go through 2 water bottles and half a camelback in 25 miles :-d don't feel like stopping every 30 miles or so

ty btw : ) going to check it out now

i can go through 2 water bottles and half a camelback in 25 miles :-d don't feel like stopping every 30 miles or so

If you're on the bicycle day in and day out for 70-100 miles a day, you'll be glad to stop every 30 miles or so!

Anyway, here's the Touring forum: http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php?f=47

How common is it to bike across the country. Please don't flame me for this suggestion, it's merely a topic to talk about.

how much training would it really take to ride 70-100 miles for months?

know anybody who has done it? got a link?

and how in the WORLD would you pack for something like that, i mean, you'd have to get food along the way (very obviously) but what? 5 bottle racks and a camelback? :P a tent probably.

how would you plan a route? do gps devices create routes that don't use the highway? (they probably do, but i don't own one)

wouldn't this take 2-3 months? even going relatively fast?

i just got to thinkin about it, you know ;) it'd be a fun trip for the last summer of college (if i'm not doing an internship) . . . while i'm still young enough to do something that crazy/absurd.

and before you ask, heck yes, one way only.


you may get suggestions to post this in the Touring Forum. But while it's here I'll respond since I've ridden across the US 2x's and Canada once.

Training: I was racing and training and had done several long tours before my first attempt but the guy who went with me on my first trip only did a couple of months of training and was not terribly disciplined at it. He was always well behind me (esp up hills) but he got into better and better shape as we went along but he suffered the first 2 weeks. It's more fun to do it if you start out in pretty good shape.

There are tons of people who've done it now. I have a student who just did it this summer. You could read their blog at: http://www.leavecancerinthedust.org/ They did the trip with support, which is another way to go. My trips were unsupported and I carried a lot of stuff with me, especially on the cross Canada trip because I was going to be in some more remote areas. Light weight one man tent, sleeping bag, stove, rain gear, tools the list is pretty extensive.

You can purchase route info with maps and cue sheets. I enjoyed planning my own but I did mine pre-internet and all the resources that go with it and GPS's. I wouldn't trust the route to GPS they just aren't specific enough in road selection for a tour like this. I'd take advantage of any and all on-line sources were I to go again. Route selection is critical IMO.

None of my trips were too direct across. The first one started in Olympia, WA and went south down the West coast to Southern CA then across the southern US, up into VA and then up the East coast- that took about 2 1/2 months. The next trip was cross Canada west bound with a northern US return. I got across Canada in about 35 days and came back in about 25 days but that was partly because I took a train for about 650 miles in the middle due to a spate of really bad weather and towards the end I sent the bulk of my equipment home ahead of me and did it "ultralight" from Ohio to RI in 6 days.

The trips were some of the most formative, extraordinary days of my life. If you have the inclination to do it I would say it's well worth the effort. You'll have an appreciation for America (and/or Canada) like very few other people do.

O.o i had NO idea people were this crazy :-d and i mean that in a good way. I didn't realize you could get routes designed for that, that would make it SOOO much easier, then again, it's far off enough to plan it all myself if i worked at it. I'd really like to go from north carolina (or atlanta if i start there) to the oregon coast. I live in north carolina, but i would not plan on biking back too. it looks like you've been everywhere O__O cold, hot, crazy weather. I checked out the touring forum and immediately found a huge amount of information. It's good to hear that everybody who has done it, truly supports going for it. This will be a lot of planning, and a year or so of training before i'm even able to go. Finances have to come first. thanks for all the input : ) even if it does make me want to hop on a bike and go for it tomorrow ;)

Training for long rides isn't all that super required - like hiking the AT. Just take it easy at first.

google maps has a "walk" option for directions. Helps in thinking the cycling route. Terrain also shows some useful visual cues. I even find routes around here I hadn't thought about.

West to east gives more tailwinds generally.

Less stuff is better. I'd love to do it supported!

Might do a couple of test trips of a week or two. Check out the system.

These guys (http://www.livestrongacrossamerica.com/home.html) did it in 33 days and did it for a great cause.

Just start out doing less than 70-100 miles a day and then work your way up.

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/

Hundreds of bicycle touring journals can be found at crazyguyonabike.